A file photo shows Harbin street view. [Photo: Xinhua]

The city of Harbin in the Chinese northeast is now being actively promoted as a regional hub for cross-border cooperation between China and Russia.

Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang, is one of the largest cities in northeast China.

The city, most famous internationally as the home of the annual ice festival, was also a critical link in the country's industrial sector after the founding of the PRC in 1949.

However, Harbin, like many cities in the Chinese northeast, fell victim to outdated industrial capacity, forcing itself to remodel to fit today's realities.

Part of this has included a realization by local officials that Russia could hold the key.

Located just a few hundred kilometers from the Russian border, Harbin is home to a significant ethnic Russian population who migrated to China in the 1920's.

As such, the State Council, China's cabinet, officially approved plans last year to allow the city to actively promote itself as the main center for cooperation between China and Russia.

Harbin Mayor Song Xibin says trade between Russia and China, through Harbin, is now much easier.

"Last year, a freight rail service between Harbin and Europe was launched. This year, on February 27th, the first Harbin-Russia international cargo train started operating. The train service between Harbin and Europe has so far brought trade benefits of around 140 million U.S. dollars. All those channels have provided support for not only northeast China's revitalization, but also cross-border economic trade, which contributes to enhance the city's economic development."

Harbin's GDP last year came in at over 570 billion yuan, or around 87 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 7.1 percent year on year.

On top of rail connections, Mayor Song Xibin says air travel to Harbin is also expanding.

"Currently there are 12 air routes linking Harbin and Russia, meaning people from 12 different Russian cities have access to a flight traveling to Harbin. This will provide transport convenience to help develop the local tourism industry, as well as attract tourists from Russia or northeast Asia."

Municipal officials in Harbin have also launched e-commerce cooperation agreements with several Russian cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg.

This year's China Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair will, for the first time, be held in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.